t you this time?"

Jim turned to him. "Gee, Phil!--positively and absolutely, the most
charming piece of femininity I have ever seen is in Vernock to-day."

"Good heavens!" ejaculated Phil. "Why didn't you tell me that Eileen
was down town?"

"Look here, old man!--I said, the most charming lady that _I_ had ever
seen, not that _you_ had ever seen."

"Oh!" apologised Phil, "I--I see."

"No,--but straight goods! I was up at the station when the train came
in, and she came off, with her mother and dad, I guess they were."

"Strangers?"

"Yes! They went right to the Station Hotel. But I tell you----" He
stopped. "Oh, well!--what's the good? Guess she's married, or engaged,
or something like that! Just my rotten luck!"

"And what has that got to do with you, anyway? Who are they? Did you
get introduced?"

"Me? Good land, no!"

"Well,--did she look at you, or smile?"

"No, siree! She's not that kind. Maybe she gave me a look, but
say!--she glided along as if--well, just as if she knew she had a
right to."

"And you are making all this fuss about a little thing like that,"
laughed Phil.

"But it isn't a little thing, man!"

"Do you know her name?"

"No! I went up to the hotel to get a glimpse of the register, but she
was around the desk there, waiting, I guess, for her dad to come down.
So I just had to beat it back.

"Oh,--I'll find out before long, though. Believe me!"

Phil laughed, for this was a new phase in the make-up of Jim Langford,
whom he had always considered impervious to the charms of any lady.

"Laugh, you crazy nut! Who would expect you to understand, anyway?"

Suddenly he sobered.

"You've got something there you want to show me."

Phil handed over the letter he was holding.

Jim read it, and his big, honest face beamed in delight. He pounced on
Phil and wrung his hand.

"Man,--isn't that great now? He owned up,--the dirty sinner. But he
waited till he was a dead one before he did it.

"Well!--better late than never. And here was I, thrusting my new
notions on to you when you had good news like that to spring on me.
Man, but I'm a selfish rotter!

"But, say, Phil!--honest!" he reverted dreamily, "she was a positive
vision."

There is no saying how long the conversation would have gone on, had
not a telephone message come from the bank requesting Jim's attendance
there immediately.

He hurried off, and was away most of the afternoon.

Towards closing time, Phil was standin